Electric water-heater



F. HACHMANN.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1920. 1,366,794..

' Patented Jan. 25, 19210 2 SHEETSSHEET larr/vented A ZZ I F. HACHIVIANN.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED mus 12. 1920.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK HACHMANN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,542.

To allwhom it may concem:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HAOH- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to electric water heaters and more particularly to the type of heater set forth in my co-pending application filed June 4, 1920, and bearing the Serial Number 386,504.

The present invention has for an object the production of an electric heating device in which water is received and heated in novel containers or compartments arranged against heating elements, thereby preventing the water and more especially salt and other extraneous substances often found therein, from corroding, decomposing and otherwise disintegrating the carbon heating elements and impairing the continued use of the heater.

Another object is to produce an electric water heater having a metallic box-likewater receptacle constructed of thin material, the interior water assageway of which is galvanized or simi arly coated to prevent corrosion and the exterior of which is preferably left uncoated and free from galvanization.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water receptacle formed of a pair of grooved plates or wall sections, which when broughttogether and secured against leakage, constitute a readily handled part of the heating device, which can be easily installed in the manufacture or repair of the heater.

With these and other objects in view the invention further consists in a comparatively inexpensive arrangement and construction of the several parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of my invention for what might be termed ordinary household or similar use Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view' F i 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the hue 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the heater illustrating in a pronounced manner the coating or galvanizing of the interior of the liquid receptacle;

Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of one of the electrodes and terminal conductors, with a portion of the insulating material separating the electrodes; and

1g. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the pair of grooved lates or wall sections forming the liquid receiving receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, the heater includes a casing 1 ofinsulating material, arranged to receive a liquid heating unit 2. A closure 3 of insulating material is provided over the heating unit and when cemented to the casing serves to completely house the several parts. Bakerite is a material suitable for the insulating referred to although other approved insulating material may be used.

The heating unit 2 consists of a pair of electrodes 4 and 5 between which is arranged insulation 6' as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. Each electrode includes a plurality of spaced carbon or heating elements 7 adapted to receive electric current through terminal conductors 8. The conductors 8 of each electrode are preferably brought together as shown to form the terminal post 9.

The electrodes are arranged to surround liquid receiving and discharging chambers or reservoirs 10 and 11, formed in a hollow core 12 of insulating material, divided as shown by the partition 13. The lower edge of the core 12 is cemented to the bottom of the casing, and the upper end is provided with a closure 14 cemented to the core.

An inlet pipe 15 passes through the bottom of the casing and extends well up into theliquid receiving chamber 10. The outlet pipe 16 is arranged to extend downwardly into the liquid discharge chamber 11, and is provided with a discharging neck of any preferred construction. Suitable connections are used to connect the inlet pipe with a faucet, and a strainer or sediment collecting device may be interposed.

The foregoing elements constitute in general the construction of my heater as more fully described in a co-pending applica- .tion, and a further detailed description thereof will not be given herein.

In adapting the heater to practical use in some localities where the ingredients of the water include salt and other extraneous substances injurious to the carbon elements tact therewith. Each receptacle is in the form of a metallic container, the walls of which are relatively thin so as to quickly conduct the heat from the carbon elements to the water passing through the receptacles.

The receptacles are each constructedpf plates or wall sections 18, one side of which is configured asat 19 to constitute a tortuous and restricted liquid passageway for a thin film of water. As shown, the configuration is in the nature of a groove 20 arranged in a spiral like manner to insure prolonged heating of the liquid. The groove 20 terminates in openings 21 and 22 for admitting the water from the receiving reservoir 10, and emptying it into the discharging reservoir 11.

The side of the plate or wall section in which the liquid passageway is formed, is of a material unaffected by the ingredients of the water. The metal plate is preferably galvanized on this side as indicated at 23 so as to present a non-corrosive and otherwise non-deteriorating surface over which the water flows. An additional advantage of the coating is to prevent the tendency of the in gredients of the water to collect and clog or interrupt the free passage thereof through the restricted passageway. The reverse side of the plate is preferably left ungalvanized, black and smooth so as to closely contact with the carbon and insure the rapid conductivity of the heat through the thin walls of the receptacle without burning or otherwise melting the plate under the high degree of heatin the carbon elements.

The receptacle is assembled by abutting the configured surfaces of the plates and soldering, welding, or otherwise uniting them to prevent leakage of the water from the restricted interior water passageways.

The exterior walls of the receptacle are closely positioned against the carbon heating elements preferably at all points, with the exception of the upper and lower edges which as shown are in contact with the insulating casing. It will be understood that the carbon elements can be constructed to completely surround the receptacles and that various arrangements of the alternate-like positioning of the carbons and liquid receiving receptacles may be resorted to.

As shown, I have positioned two communieating receptacles in each electrode, but this may be increased or decreased according to the capacity and size of the heater.

Passageways 24L serve to establish communication between the receptacles in each electrode, and with the liquid receiving and discharging reservoirs as best shown in Fig. 1. These passageways may be metal extensions pressed from the plate or wall sections 18, or formed of separate and similarly coated connections interposed and secured by soldering or welding to prevent all leakage of the liquid. These connections may be made in various ways commensurate with the commercial production of the heater, and I do not limit myself to the exact form shown and described herein.

The water to beheated passes into the receiving chamber 10 from the inlet pipe 15, thence into the passageways 24 communicating with the receptacles of each electrode. The restricted passageway in each receptacle spreads the water into a thin film, and the heat from the surrounding carbons passing through the relatively thin walls of the receptacles serves to quickly heat the water, after which it flows into the discharge reservoir at the other end of the heater and out through the discharge pipe 16. vThe instantaneous operation of the heater is successfully accomplished by the quick conductivity of the heat through the extremely thin walls of the receptacle, and the longevity of use of the heater is materially increased by the interior construction of the liquid passageway. The proportional measurements of the novel plates forming this liquid receiving reservoir will not be given herein, but it will suffice to say that their size is a material factor in achieving the ends sought, and I do not limit myself to the proportion and size shown herein.

It will also be obvious that the shape of the liquid receiving receptacles may be varied and the carbons or heating elements associated therewith positioned in a corresponding manner about the receptacle.

I claim:

1. An electric water heater including electrodes formed of carbon elements and a plurality of water receivin receptacles arranged against the carbon elements, each of said receptacles being formed with a restricted interior of non-corrosive material for the passage of a thin film of water therethrough wholly out of contact with the car bon elements.

2. An electric water heater including electrodes formed of carbon elements, and a plurality of water receiving receptacles interposed between said carbon elements, each of said receptacles being formed of relatively thin material and provided with a re stricted interior of non-corrosive material for the passage of a thin film of water through the heater wholly out of contact with the carbon elements.

3. An electric Water heater including electrodes formed of spaced carbon elements, and a liquid receiving receptacle interposed between said carbon elements, said receptacle being formed of relatively. thin metallic plates united to prevent leakage and configured to provide a restricted water passageway for the flow of a thin film of water wholly out of contact with the carbon elements.

4. An electric water heater including electrodes formed of spaced carbon elements, and a water receiving receptacle interposed between said carbon elements, said receptacle being formed of relatively thin metallic plates united to prevent leakage and configured on one side thereof s as to form a restricted water passageway when the.

plates are abutted, and smooth on the opposite side thereof for contact with the carbon elements.

5. An electric Water heater including electrodes formed of carbon elements and a liquid receiving receptacle of thin metal having a restricted interior of non-corrosive finish for the flow of the water through said receptacle wholly out of contact with the carbon elements and a relatively smooth exterior finish forsaid receptacle adapted to bear against the carbon elements for transmitting a maximum degree of heat to the water in the receptacle.-

6. An electric water heater including electric heating elements and a water receiving receptacle interposed between said heating elements, said receptacle having an interior passageway unaffected by the water passing therethrough, and surrounded by relatively thin. walls the exterior finish of which is capable of transmitting maximum heat without deterioration.

7. An electric water heater including a pair of electrodes each formed of spaced carbon elements, insulation separating said electrodes, a plurality of liquid receiving receptacles interposed between the carbon elements of each electrode, said receptacles having restricted water passageways arranged to communicate with each other in each electrode for the flow of the Water through the heater. wholly out of contact with the carbon elements, inlet and discharge reservoirs communicating with said receptacles, and inlet and outlet openings for said reservoirs.

8. An electric Water heater including a pair of electrodes each formed of spaced, semi-cylindrical carbon elements, insulation separating said electrodes, and a plurality of liquid receiving receptacles of semi-cylindrical form interposed between the semicylindrical carbon elements, said receptacles having restricted water passageways arranged to communicate with each other in each electrode for the flow of the water through the heater wholly out of contact with the carbon elements, and inlet and outlet openings for said receptacles.

9. An electric water heater including a pair of electrodes each formed of a series of carbon elements, insulation separating said electrodes, and a plurality of liquid receiving receptacles for each electrode, said 'receptacles being formed of abutted plates united against leakage and provided with a restricted Water passageway for the flow of the water wholly out of contact with the carbon elements. a

10. An electric water heater including a pair of electrodes each formed of separated carbon elements, insulation separating said electrodes, liquid receiving receptacles for each electrode arranged between and separating the carbon elements, said receptacles being formed of configured wall sections brought together and united against leakage to provide a restricted water passageway for the fiow of the liquid wholly out of contact with the carbon elements, and inlet and outlet openings for said receptacles.

11. A liquid receiving receptacle for an electric water heater, comprising thin metallic wall sections united to prevent leakage, said sections being configured on one side thereof to provide a restricted water passageway and formed with a smooth surface on the other side thereof for contact with a heating element.

512. A liquid receiving receptacle for an electric water heater, comprising wall sections united to prevent leakage and form a restricted passageway for the flow of water, said sections being formed of thin metal 105 coated on one side with a material unaffected by the water, and provided with an uncoated smooth surface on the other side thereof for contact with a heating element.

13. A liquid receiving receptacle for an 110 electric water heater, comprising thin metal-' lic wall sections united to prevent leakage and form a restricted water passageway for the flow of the water, the united faces of the wall sections being galvanized and the ex- 115 terior faces of said sections being left ungalvanized for contact with the heating element.

14. A liquid receiving receptacle for an electric water heater having a galvanized in- 120 terior water passageway unaffected by the water contained therein, and an exterior surface of a material capable of contacting with a heating element for transmitting a maidmum heat to the interior of the recep- 125 tac e.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

FREDERICK HACHM NN, 

